Do you remember Rachel’s cat Voldemort eh Valdo? Turned out he wasn’t a murderer that night, but he certainly challenged my cardiac rhythm.

I was watching some TV in the kitchen. Valdo was upstairs, and I assumed that he was sleeping in my bed. After 2 hours, I became suspicious. I hadn’t heard any noise, nothing fell and no meowing for more food. I needed to check what he was doing. He wasn’t in my bedroom. He wasn’t on the attic. He wasn’t in my wardrobe. There was no one but me and an open balcony door.

WHAT? Have a look at the lock: you’ve to turn the wheel and push the door at the same time. I couldn’t believe my eyes and started to panic. I texted Rachel and asked her to call me when her daughter was out of hearing. I grabbed some cat food and started searching. Not an easy task in a forest. I had no idea in which direction he could have gone. I didn’t know whether he’d be sitting on a tree or hiding under a shrub. How could I possibly find him?

Rachel called and told me to take a break. She was sure Voldemort would come back eventually. I went home and waited. After 2 long hours, I heard an angry meow. I ran out the door, behind the house. And yes, Valdo-Voldemort was sitting there and meowing towards the balcony of the 2nd floor. He was glad to see me – or the treat in my hand, who do I try to fool. He continued meowing at the balcony when I grabbed him. Oh my – he was furious! He wanted to enter the house through the balcony, not the entrance door.

I tried to tell him it’s not my fault that he can’t climb up the wall. He seemed to understand what I was saying because he fell asleep in my arms, tired of his adventures. He became angry though that the door to the balcony room was now closed and locked. And yes, I put the key in my pocket – who knows if Voldemort knows how to use a key?

I can now laugh about Valdo’s escape, but you get that it really wasn’t funny. I wished I had read those articles when Valdo disappeared:

Your cat is lost and you’ve tried all you could? Don’t give up! Need some hope? Lost Cats Found is a must-read for you. Danielle Robertson collects and shares “inspirational stories about cats that have gone missing and were later reunited with their families” on this blog.

They know how to get out but have a hard time getting back in. Glad you found the stinker:) Our one cat knows how to open the door to the upstairs (my mom lived upstairs). Ours are all indoor cats but 2 just whine to be let out.

It sure can be scary when an indoor-kitty gets out! Sampson got out one time, and it about gave me and him a heart attack. As soon as he got out the door, he panicked and just started running. And of course I was chasing after him like a moron, which just scared him even more. Thankfully he ran into a neighbors fenced in back yard, which put a halt to his running and I was able to corner him.
Glad that Voldemore came back home safely! What an adventure for both of you!

I wanted to kill and hug him at the same time. I tried to stay calm when he came back, so that I wouldn’t scare him away. Don’t know if I really succeeded, but he was tired and hungry, and didn’t care about my hysteria. I’m glad Sampson came back home safely!!

Yup, they are so clever and cat-honour code means they won’t tell you how they did it. I have had to get door handles put the other way round here.
Thanks for the recommendation and there is no need to apologise: I’ve used it but it is limited when there are maybe 4 or more cats. I would certainly use it if I had to isolate any of mine as it does work well. Usually the spats and arguments here are fairly good natured although a couple are regularly bullied which is hard to handle but in a group of 13 there has to be a hierarchy.
I think it would be excellent for your two when they arrive: the diffuser is more effective than the spray, I have found.
Karin

To be the mouse or the cat

One human, two cats and “Not-Me” living in the suburbs of Helsinki. Which one of us can only play when the other one’s away? I think the human is the cat and my cats are the mice. I’ll explain why as soon as I get this butt off my face.

I suffer from depression and anxiety disorder, and I also write about the impact of cats on mental health.

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